Chapter 187 – Ōtsutsuki Genshiki Has Arrived!
While Kitagawa Gen was in the midst of toppling Kumogakure, Konoha itself was hosting a high-level strategic meeting.
This wasn't just a simple war council — it was a rare joint meeting between three of the Great Villages, and Hiruzen Sarutobi was treating it with utmost seriousness.
"Gentlemen, Konoha can handle the defensive operations, but regarding the offensive against Kumogakure… I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Hiruzen spoke without looking up, his eyes scanning a scroll in his hands. Everyone here was an old hand in the game; decades of war had long since made them veterans to such discussions.
"My troops are already assembled,"
Ōnoki replied bluntly.
"Konoha should already be in position in the Land of Hot Water, yes? Then the operation should proceed smoothly."
"Instead of talking about that,"
Genji interjected with a wrinkled smile,
"why not discuss something more… practical? Like procurement. I propose we purchase supplies from the Land of Water — quality guaranteed, no matter the distance."
Ōnoki snorted.
"Don't push it, Genji. Everyone knows the Land of Earth has the finest mineral resources in the shinobi world — and we're much closer to Konoha. Why go so far for less?"
Hiruzen massaged the bridge of his nose.
"Enough. We'll divide supply shares accordingly. Let's focus on the real issue — ending Kumogakure quickly. Once they're dealt with, there will be more than enough 'cake' to go around."
Genji nodded, his tone all business now.
"Kirigakure can land from Turtle Island and raid their western coastline, using it as a base."
Ōnoki eyed him shrewdly.
"Assuming you'd actually leave Turtle Island once you've taken it. Fine. Iwagakure will strike from the eastern sea and complete the encirclement."
Hiruzen agreed with a curt nod.
"Information will be shared in full."
None of them argued. For all their constant bickering over resources and influence, no one treated war itself lightly — no one wanted unnecessary casualties among their own.
But just as they were hashing out operational details, there was a knock at the door.
"Hm?"
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow but gestured for the visitor to enter. Moments later, Jiraiya and Tsunade burst into the room.
"You two? What's going on?"
Hiruzen was visibly puzzled. Wasn't Jiraiya supposed to be working on Naruto's seal? And Tsunade — shouldn't she be assisting elders or tending to other urgent matters?
A bad feeling crept up on him.
"Has something happened?"
Jiraiya exchanged a glance with Tsunade, both seeing the same shock mirrored in the other's eyes. Taking a deep breath, he said:
"We've received intel from the front. A massive chakra signature erupted in Kumogakure… and according to ANBU reports, the village has likely fallen."
The entire room fell silent.
For a long moment, no one spoke — the words seemed too absurd to register. Kumogakure… fallen? The war hadn't even officially started yet! How was that possible?
"You're not joking, are you?"
Hiruzen's voice was taut, disbelief etched on his face.
"What exactly happened? Don't tell me… Ōtsutsuki Genshiki has arrived?"
The mere mention of that name drew grim looks from Ōnoki and Genji. They all remembered the battle outside Konoha — the lone warrior who had crushed the Akatsuki, even calling down a meteor from the heavens. It was power beyond human scale, leaving the terrain outside Konoha permanently scarred.
If someone like that had struck Kumogakure… there would be nothing left to defend.
"If he launched a surprise meteor strike, they wouldn't have stood a chance,"
Hiruzen muttered.
Jiraiya shook his head.
"No… it wasn't him."
Everyone turned sharply toward him.
"According to ANBU, there were three attackers."
"Three?"
Hiruzen, Ōnoki, and Genji all stared at each other. Tsunade spoke next:
"That's right. Three individuals descended from the sky. They bombarded key infrastructure, then launched a direct assault on the Raikage's Tower."
She paused briefly.
"One of them engaged alone. The other two pressed the attack using jutsu resembling Explosion Release and Lava Release…"
At that moment, Ōnoki and Genji shared a look.
Damn it.
This sense of déjà vu… could it be—?
"Then… what about the last one?"
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi's body trembled slightly. He stared at Tsunade and Jiraiya in disbelief.
"It wouldn't be that easy for Kumogakure to fall. Even if their Kage is dead, they're seasoned warriors — and they still have two Jinchūriki."
"Wood Release."
Tsunade's voice was heavy with gravity. She knew exactly what Hiruzen was thinking.
"I've received confirmed intelligence — cross-verified. It was Wood Release."
"Wood Release?!"
Even Ōnoki and the Mizukage drew a sharp breath. Ōnoki in particular turned toward Hiruzen in disbelief.
"Don't tell me… that kid learned Wood Release too?!"
"Gen never mentioned anything like that," Hiruzen said with a wry smile, though disbelief still lingered in his eyes.
"You're absolutely certain?"
"Yes. Without a doubt."
Tsunade nodded. Before coming here, she'd been with both of her "grandfathers" — Hashirama and Tobirama — and they had been the first to sense something was wrong.
She still couldn't shake the memory of their expressions at that moment — shock, fear, and utter disbelief mingled together. She had never seen them like that before.
"I understand. That must mean the one still in the village is only a clone."
Hiruzen rubbed his brow and spoke decisively.
"Summon his clone. And alert our forces — prepare for all contingencies."
"Understood."
Jiraiya and Tsunade nodded. Ōnoki and Genji, however, still hadn't fully recovered from the news.
They were angry — of course they were. Their "designated" next Kage had slipped away without a word to engage in something this dangerous. Outrageous!
And yet… they couldn't deny the satisfaction. Kumogakure's power had been neutralized with startling ease. Still, "fallen" was not a word to be used lightly. Even without the full details, it was hard to believe it had been simple.
"What an unusual way of waging war," Ōnoki said with a bitter smile. "Konoha might really be returning to its glory days."
Genji suddenly frowned.
"Tell me, is Kitagawa Gen a member of the Senju clan?"
Ōnoki leaned forward, equally curious.
Hiruzen froze for a moment, then shook his head with a small smile.
"I don't know. But even if he isn't, it wouldn't be surprising."
"That boy's talent is… beyond imagination."
This question wasn't just troubling Hiruzen.
In the ANBU's underground research lab, Senju Hashirama and Tobirama were staring blankly at each other.
They had no mind for experiments now. And besides… they had sensed something they hadn't told Tsunade.
"Brother… was that True Several Thousand Hands?"
Tobirama had been silent for a long time before finally asking. Hashirama hesitated, then nodded.
"If my senses weren't mistaken, yes. Unbelievable… that he could wield such power."
The True Several Thousand Hands was Hashirama's ultimate technique — one he had only ever used against Uchiha Madara. The chakra cost was immense, the requirements steep. Without Sage Mode, it couldn't even be invoked.
That was precisely why, the moment it was used, Hashirama could detect it instantly.
Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he'd sense someone else casting it.
"Brother… do you think Gen could be one of us? A Senju?"
"Not necessarily. Wood Release was my creation. Even if he's not a Senju, it's not impossible for him to learn it."
Hashirama's tone was uncertain, but in the end he shook his head. The Senju were not famed solely for Wood Release — it was his own mastery that had elevated it to legend.
"Whatever the case, we'll have our answers when they return."
He sighed, but his expression grew serious.
"It's possible that Gen might actually be able to face Ōtsutsuki Genshiki."
Tobirama recalled the devastation outside Konoha — damage even greater than Hashirama's battle with Madara — and nodded.
"I never imagined that after Madara's death, we'd face something this troublesome."
"Ōtsutsuki Genshiki… perhaps the future really will depend on him."
The oppressive weight of Genshiki's presence was something no one could ignore.
While everyone in the villages was still discussing Kitagawa Gen's Wood Release and the threat of Genshiki…
In a cavern within the Land of Lightning, Kitagawa Gen stared at the glowing panel before him in silence.
[Side Mission Complete: Hidden Cloud Collapse]
[Punch first, ask questions while punching]
[Reward Acquired: Complete Compendium of Kumogakure Secret Arts]
"Complete Compendium of Kumogakure Secret Arts? Is this… all the techniques they've stolen over the years?"
Gen was baffled. He had expected the chakra of a tailed beast as his reward — instead, he got this.
It wasn't that the reward was bad… but the chakra of a tailed beast was far more valuable to him.
"I mean, crippling Kumogakure was fine… but no tailed beast chakra at all? That's just unfair."
He glanced at Deidara, who was still bragging about their haul, and at Terumi Mei, who remained quietly thoughtful.
Gen sighed, then stood up.
"Well, that settles it. I was going to let things be… but now?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Ōtsutsuki Genshiki… you're coming again, aren't you?"
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